PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Netinho Frangote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Frangote
vs
Mendes

180 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Netinho Frangote!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Frangote slips a jab and a cross from Mendes.
Mendes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mendes clobbers Frangote with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Frangote tries for a takedown but Mendes circles away easily
and Mendes counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Frangote is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Mendes throws a shot from downtown. Frangote moves away and avoids it.
Frangote shoots in looking for a takedown. Mendes tries to sprawl out of it but Frangote keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mendes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Mendes has Frangote up against the cage in a clinch.

Mendes gets control of Frangote's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mendes will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mendes tries to strike from the bottom.
Frangote wants to control from the top but Mendes keeps moving.
Mendes is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Frangote trying to control but Mendes is working from the bottom.
Mendes is trying to keep Frangote in close.
Frangote trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mendes's guard.
Mendes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mendes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mendes controls Frangote momentarily but Frangote frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Frangote shoots in looking for a takedown but Mendes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Frangote's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Netinho Frangote. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Frangote throws a one two combo.
Frangote shoots and misses

and Mendes moves into the clinch.
Mendes avoiding damage.

Mendes decides to pull guard.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Frangote from controlling successfully.
Mendes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Frangote is one step ahead there.
Mendes looks gassed!
Mendes controls Frangote momentarily but Frangote frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes has a closed guard, preventing Frangote from standing up.
Frangote looking to sit in guard and control but Mendes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Frangote utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Mendes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mendes wants to pass the guard but Frangote is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Frangote is proving hard to escape from.
Frangote can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mendes controls the pace.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Frangote keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mendes postures up.

Frangote has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mendes is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Frangote.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Mendes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Frangote shoots in for a double leg but Mendes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Mendes fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Frangote to the ground. Mendes is now in Frangote's guard.
Frangote wants to stand and escape but Mendes is having none of it.

Frangote is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mendes defends well.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Frangote is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Frangote works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mendes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frangote keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.
Mendes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rafael Mendes was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Frangote slips a straight right by Mendes.
Mendes is looking to clinch but Frangote is avoiding it.

Mendes drives through and clinches with Frangote against the cage.

Mendes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frangote fails with the takedown

and Mendes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mendes lands a takedown into guard.

Frangote escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mendes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mendes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mendes stands up and waves to Frangote to follow him.
Frangote fails with the takedown

and Mendes moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Netinho Frangote. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendes just leaning against Frangote, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mendes taking a breather.
Frangote tries to score a body lock takedown but Mendes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Mendes pulls guard successfully.
Mendes trying to strike off his back.
Mendes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Frangote. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Frangote throws a big right hand that misses.

Frangote got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mendes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Frangote has managed to get both his arms back between Mendes's legs - danger averted.
Mendes seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Frangote postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Frangote from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mendes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mendes is trying to keep Frangote in close.

Netinho Frangote has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Mendes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mendes stands up out of the half guard.
Frangote with a poor takedown

and Mendes counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Mendes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mendes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mendes trying to control the action but Frangote is working from the bottom.

Mendes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Mendes decides to stand up, so the ref orders Frangote to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frangote tries for a takedown but Mendes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendes connects with an inside leg kick.
Frangote throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mendes's waist but Mendes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Frangote off to one side.
Frangote misses with a body shot.
Frangote fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Netinho Frangote. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Frangote gets caught flat footed, as Mendes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mendes tries to free his leg and advance position but Frangote is retaining full guard.

Frangote escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mendes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Frangote looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Frangote keeps moving.

Frangote working for a triangle but Mendes defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mendes sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes wants to stand but Frangote is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mendes is looking to advance position but Frangote has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Frangote is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Mendes is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Mendes flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Frangote anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Mendes and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Frangote slips an arm under Mendes chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Frangote has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Frangote is squeezing on Mendes like an anaconda would it's prey. Mendes fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Netinho Frangote!